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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



THE 
CLASH OF THRONES 

A SERIES OF 

SON NETS 

ON THE 

EUROPEAN WAR 

BY 
HENRY FRANK 

AUTHOR OF "the STORY OF AMERICA SKETCHED IN SONNETS" 



"Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge. 
With Ate by his side, come hot from Hell, 
Shall, in these confines, with a Monarch's voice. 
Cry 'Havock,' and let slip the dogs of war." 

Anthony's Oration, "Julius CcBsar." 




BOSTON: RICHARD G. BADGER 

TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED 



Copyright, 191 s, by HENRY FRANK 



All Rights Reserved 



TV 



" b 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 



QEC 171915 

a)CI,A416918 



TO 
WOODROW WILSON 

THE NATION'S STAFF AND SHIELD 
IN ITS HOUR OF DIRE NEED 



PREFATORY NOTE 

In utilizing the European Conflict as a theme 
for a sonnet series, the object of the author was 
not to write in mere generalizations, but to give 
the verses a certain historical value by incor- 
porating, as far as possible in poetic phraseology, 
the passing events themselves. In this way they 
may depict a sort of poetic panorama of some 
of the great issues of the conflict. 

In no sense has the author embarked upon a 
historical or detailed presentation. He wrote as 
the current events of importance inspired him. 
He was not a Httle surprised to find, however, 
after the sonnets which had been written during 
the first year of the War were collected, that they 
fell into the natural subdivisions set forth in the 
table of contents. This was purely accidental as 
no such "malice prepense" was premeditated. 

Possibly this manner of presenting the Story 
of the War may assist in memorising the chief 
events. To this end, there has been appended 
a prosaic feature, containing the chronology of 
the principle movements. 

In the section, "The Warring Nations," the 
author has attempted a slight intimation of the 
psychology of the national spirit that stirred the 
people to action, undertaking, as well, to indicate 

5 



Prefatory Note 



the motive, whether high or low, and the pro- 
phetic possibilities which await the countries in- 
volved. 

If there be a seeming inconsistency in the au- 
thor's attitude between the sonnets depicting the 
earlier and the later events, the explanation lies 
in the fact that his sympathies and reflections 
were qualified by the varying trend of the situa- 
tions as the war proceeded. 

New York City, September, 1915. 



CONTENTS 
Section I. Introductory 



PAGE 



The World War 1 1 

Woodrow Wilson 13 

Section II. The Warring Nations 

Servia . 17 

Germany 18 

Russia 19 

Belgium 20 

England 21 

Poland 22 

Italy 23 

Turkey 24 

France 24 ^ 

Bulgaria 24 b 

The United States (neutral) .... 25 

Section III. War's Horrors 

The Rape of Belgium 29 

Louvain 30 

Liisitania 31 

Sinking of the Arabic 33 

Where Are Thy Sons, Columbia ? ... 34 

Militarism 35 

7 



Contents 



PAGE 



War's Harvest 36 

The War and the Proletariate .... 37 

The War God 38 

The Heathen Laugh 39 

Section IV. The Trend of Progress 

The Warring Civilizations 43 

King Albert 45 

Two Phases of Patriotism 

I. Barbaric Patriotism 46 

II. Ideal Patriotism 47 

Mars Moriturus 48 

A Prophetic Epoch 50 

Amende Honorable 51 

The Fairer Fruits of War 52 

Europa Rejuvenata .... \ ... 53 

The Consummation to Be Wished - » * * SS 

The War Sociahsts 56 

The Parliament of Peace 57 

The Final Treaty 58 

Section V 

Chronology of Leading Early Events . 61 



SECTION I. 
INTRODUCTORY 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE WORLD WAR 



O, Nations of the World, what Woe Is this, 
Which Gulfs of Hell, tempestuous, hurl in fires 
Of virulent death on women frail and sires 
Grey, who in vain swift flee its violent hiss, 
That, flaming, sings the Irony of Bliss 
And Mockery of Toil, in raucous choirs 
Of plangent hail, whose lips, consuming, kiss 
The fairest fruits of Peace and Hope's desires. 

Is this the Acme of Civilian's pride; 

The paean over Savagery; the end 

Of Culture and exalted Thought, should crown 

The earth, and mark the march of Social Trend? 

For this have Centuries, in hurried stride. 

The globe with progress girded, and renown? 



II 



The Clash of Thrones 



II 

Hushed, now, the buoyant Voice of Hope, that 

sung 
In Ages past of Man's prophetic Dreams 
And golden Wish! Woe's mists o'erdim the 

gleams 
Of radiant summits, whence th' inspired Tongue 
Of prophets, with enraptured vision, flung 
The joyous notes of promised Peace, which seems 
Millenniums removed, and rudely wrung 
From hands that almost touched her nearing 

beams. 

Truth's noble brow is smote with sabred blood. 
And souls, who served at Wisdom's fanes, are 

crushed 
'Neath red War's brutal heel, which stamps dis- 
may 
Athwart the world, and conjures Horror's brood 
At Sorrow's banquet, whilst blanched Hope, 

though hushed. 
Faints not but glimpses Love's approaching Day. 



12 



The Clash of Thrones 



WOODROW WILSON 



He pleads the Standards of Man's age-won 

Right, 
Whilst, e'en, the flame-singed Wolves of War 

engage 
In the wild whirlwind of destructive rage. 
He pleads Columbia's unselfish Might, 
To shield the Neutral World from ancient blight. 
Of earth's once primitive and lawless Age, 
When War's envenomed fangs could snap and 

bite, 
With vengeful lust, in Hate's redundant rage. 

The primal curse must not o'ertop the times. 
And drag Civilians back to untamed ways, 
Of brutal savagery and hideous vice. 
Shall we, unchallenging nefarious crimes. 
Permit their ravaging and direful plays. 
All heedless of the cost and sacrifice? 



13 



The Clash of Thrones 



II 

Calm, midst the cataclysmic clash of thrones, 
He reigns, imperious, in Reason's realm. 
Though the red waves of Hell the world over- 
whelm. 
Nor purblind dullness of pacific Drones, 
Nor taunt of Jingoists' contemptuous tones. 
Can swerve the Pilot at the Nation's helm. 
Who guides the Ship of State through dangerous 

zones. 
Where Death lurks crouching in the foamy film! 

As when a Star, through rift of tattered clouds. 
Beams hopefully upon the darkened earth, 
And promises a day of blue and balm; 
So, now, when Gloom the ruptured world en- 
shrouds. 
His Mind glows o'er the globe's embattled girth, 
An Orb prophetic of approaching calm. 



14 



SECTION II. 
THE WARRING NATIONS 



The Clash of Thrones 



SERVIA 

The Assassin's shot that smote the Austrian 

throne, 
Struck, from the flint of thy ambitious aim. 
The Spark, whence sprung the world-engulfing 

Flame 
That laps mankind within its war-waved zone. 
Thy Courage, heartened by the growling tone. 
Of watchful Northern Bear when sought for 

game. 
Revealed Teutonia's secret purpose, prone 
On cowing Empires into subjects tame. 

Pan-Slavic, pan-Germanic Swords now clash; 

A continent is crimsoned in a sea 

Of surging blood; and Beasts of Prey o'er-range 

The once rich fields, where fiery Serpents flash. 

Ay, doubtful looms the Star of Liberty, 

And wan is Hope, distraught and passing strange ! 



17 



The Clash of Thrones 



GERMANY 

The Land, where peaceful Arts in splendor 

reigned, 
And lofty Dreams inspired the soul of Man, 
Is now, through breadth of her imperial span, 
By shameless Infamy o'erblotched and stained. 
Whate'er her martial Prowess shall have gained. 
Though her bold Eagles lead the bravest van. 
And crush all foes with ardor unrestrained, 
Her fate is doomed to Fame's derisive ban. 

Vain Kaiser, if but proud Ambition spurred 
Thy Spirit to flash thy glory on the sun, 
O'erdazzling Bonaparte's resplendent schemes. 
Thy vision Is by Folly's glamor blurred : 
For Mankind, undeceived, will learn to shun 
A madman's claims and world-destroying dreams. 



i8 



The Clash of Thrones 



RUSSIA 

Grim Land of Slavic gloom and mystery, 
Cimmerian depths where dwell the shadowy gods, 
And Genius springs from unsuspected sods. 
Whilst Multitudes, with fear and faltering knee, 
Lie cowering In direst bigotry. 
Some mystic Power thy stirring soul applauds : 
Perchance, War's Teeth may snap the Despot's 

rods. 
And free thy fledgling wings of liberty. 

Then, from the beauteous heights of lofty Truth, 

The Sun of Social Justice shall disperse 

The Hatreds of thy racial tyrannies. 

Transformed, thy Nation shall renew its youth, 

Fair Liberty become Ambition's nurse. 

And Progress hail the ever brightening skies. 



19 



The Clash of Thrones 



BELGIUM 

A BEAUTEOUS and modest Bird of Peace — 
That labored for her Young, and her pure nest 
From foul invasion of invidious pest 
Protected, mindful but that she increase 
Her useful offspring, and that dangers cease 
To terrorize their lives, till Nature pressed 
Them forward from a mother's nestling breast- 
Slept brooding, her head beneath her wings, in 
peace. 

A shrill and hideous Shriek the soft air smites, 
As, waking, o'er her hung a Vampire Bird, 
That thrust his bleeding talons toward her 

breast I 
She trembled at the swarm of murderous kites 
That followed, yet, heedless of the threats she 

heard. 
Fought dauntlessly to save her shattered nest. 



20 



The Clash of Thrones 



ENGLAND 

Let not Tradition's calm, complacent mind 

Deceive with idle vanity: thy power, 

Since erst thou taught'st the Spanish crown to 

cower, 
Is challenged to the death: and, undermined, 
Thy mighty Dreadnaughts tremble in the wind, 
As o'er thy little Isle Air-Terrors glower. 
Thy listless, halting people to remind, 
That e'en from Heaven may fall Hell's fiery 

shower. 

Not all of glory, Britain, is thy fame: 

Thy 'Scutcheon's stains are deep and glare: but 

Man 
Forgives, and hails thee Freedom's stalwart 

Friend. 
Thy Sword, unsheathed in Liberty's fair name, 
Strikes for Democracy's unhindered span. 
That Might, henceforth, but Human Right de- 
fend. 



21 



The Clash of Thrones 



POLAND 

Lorn Niobe of Nations, gaunt and wan, 
How oft has bled thy tortured, war-torn Breast! 
Crass Destiny has scorned thy racial crest. 
And cast thy Pride beneath the Despot's ban. 
E'en Blood of Kosciusko's valorous clan. 
Nor countless Sons, heroic death caressed, 
Could drive the Tyrant from thy crimsoned 

span, 
Nor recompense thy Wrongs still unredressed. 

Mayhap, the disemboweling Throes of War 
Shall snap the Chains, thy weary limbs have 

bound, 
And seize the Sceptre from usurping Thrones. 
Then shalt thou knock again at Freedom's door, 
And, entering! a nobler Nation found. 
Midst welling anthems and exultant tones. 



22 



The Clash of Thrones 



ITALY 

Spurs Sclpio's Spirit the valor of thy hosts, 
And leaps proud Sulla's courage in thy veins,^ 
To cleanse thy shield of shame and martial stains, 
So long have dimmed the splendor of thy coasts, 
Since spurned by Bonaparte's defiant boasts? 
Recrowned a Nation, do the wild refrains 
Of Vict'ry, echoed in thy banquet toasts. 
Awake the slumber of thy storied plains? 

Yet, if but Goal of Lucre lure thy quest — ^ 
The Lust of land, the Loot of strange domains, — 
The Glory of thy Alpine feats shall fade, 
Whate'er thy Prowess or thy Sword's behest. 
None but the Brave, in Freedom's Cause arrayed, 
Immortal, win the world's undimmed acclaims. 



23 



The Clash of Thrones 



TURKEY 

The spectral Sword of Mahomet awoke 
Muezzin calls on many a Turkish plain, 
With cryptic Promise of a Holy Reign, 
Would sway its ancient Power, when Europe, 

broke 
On War's disrupting wheel, would wield the 

stroke 
Of suicidal rage. The sturdy strain, 
Of Saracen and furious Bashi-bazouk, 
Was summonsed far to swell the Prophet's gain. 

But fading like a spectre of the night, 

The Arm of Mahomet dissolved in air, 

And o'er his troops arose the Cross of Christ! 

They seek no more the Crescent's glimmering 

Light, 
But where the wily Teuton leads, they glare, 
And battle bravely as in baffling mist. 



24 



The Clash of Thrones 



FRANCE 

Thy Story, lithe and brave, mercurial France, 
Enchants us like the Lore of Mythic Lays ! 
Oft have the heroes of thy tragic days. 
Baptised in blood of glory and romance, 
For Truth and Liberty broke thy bold lance ! 
Undaunted, thou hast sought the stormiest ways. 
To rouse Mankind from Stupor's sullen trance. 
All heedless of Convention's curse or praise. 

Unboastful of thy valor, when grim Fate 
Forestalled thy readiness, and Teuton's Ire 
Spread flame and havoc o'er thy richest fields, 
The spirit of thy deep, unfathomed Hate 
So whelmed the foe with swift avenging fire. 
It proved the blow a god in triumph wields. 



24^ 



The Clash of Thrones 



BULGARIA 

Beneath the shadows of thy Balkan range, 
How tragic are the scenes that Time has played, 
As Honor, oft by Treachery betrayed. 
With bowed head watched the swift and bloody 

change 
Of Rulers — the Assassin's Blade exchange 
Its daring for a Conqueror's crown, and trade 
A sceptre for a Faith more bold and strange. 
As thy frail throne, or Cross or Crescent swayed. 

Mayhap, to thee stern Destiny has given 
The fatal chance to throw the loaded dice, 
Shall win the Trick that ends the murd'rous 

game. 
If so, or right or wrong, yon judging Heaven 
Shall prove, as Time displays the costly price, 
A Mad World paid for trophies of its' shame ! 



24 h 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE UNITED STATES 

(neutral) 

'Tis nobler far, with stately Calm, and wise 
Reserve of Judgment on contending foes. 
To harbor patient Peace, whose Boon bestows 
On struggling Man the fruits that Freemen prize, 
Than yield to clash of arms and savageries, 
Impulsive Passions cause. Thy fair Name glows 
With Justice, through the wide, expanding skies. 
Where'er thy far-flung Flag its splendor throws. 

Then, proud Columbia, cast not thy fate 

Into the gory maelstrom, the dazed world 

Appals; conserve thy Ire and thy hate, 

For WRONGS, shall from age-vested thrones be 

hurled. 
For ne'er, dishonored, shall thy flag be furled, 
Nor Peace, thy valorous sons degenerate. 



25 



SECTION III. 
WAR'S HORRORS 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE RAPE OF BELGIUM 

Not Waters of ten thousand Seas shall cleanse 
The stain, O Prussia, on thy smirched Name; 
The Glory once, of whose untarnished fame, 
Shone brilliantly o*er Ignorance and dense 
Stupidity, where men In darkling fens 
Of base gloom groveled; now, by senseless 

Shame 
Is blighted, and sinks beneath the shrouded glens, 
Where lie the Damned who fouled In Life's fair 

game. 

Though blasted Belgium at thy feet lies low. 
And thy blood-seeking Vultures sink their bills 
In her proud breast and writhe her festering sore, 
She shall, Prometheus-like, the gods o'erglow, 
And kindle altars on her shattered hills. 
Shall deathless life to her brave soul restore. 



29 



The Clash of Thrones 



LOUVAIN 

The Conqueror's curse fell on thy walls, Louvain, 

And trampled ruthlessly the classic flowers 

Of Knowledge, that blossomed in thy learned 

bowers. 
Midst sad debris the student now, in vain, 
Shall court the offspring of thy learned brain, 
Or seek sweet solace, where Medusa glowers 
O'er ashen friezes crushed by iron rain. 
That fell like flaming sheets in fiery showers. 

Where now the dreams that Science weaves for 

Man: 
The Magic Powers would woo supernal Peace 
From Hesperus, where grew the golden food: — 
The cryptic visions. Prophets fondly scan 
From favoring skies, bespeaking War's surcease, 
And blissful boon of Earthly Brotherhood! 



30 



The Clash of Thrones 



LUSITANIA 



From where the Deep its booming thunder 

heaves, 
And fathomless, mysterious Tragedies 
Conceal their horror from the searching skies; 
Where Tempests plow and gather whitening 

sheaves 
Of billowy crests ; or stately Vessel leaves 
A glistening trail, replete with memories 
To dreamy mariners; each atom grieves 
With echo of forgotten infamies. 

But none so black, so gruesome or so damned. 

As this, the Scientific Pirate wrought, 

Defiant of all progress and humane 

Advance. Not Hell, for ages choked and 

crammed 
With villainies, e'er one so hideous sought, 
As this the acme of an Age insane. 



31 



The Clash of Thrones 



II 

The trembling Voice of Hope is hushed; the 

Tongue 
Of Peace is "jangled out of tune" ; the Love, 
That once Teutonia and Columbia wove 
Round hearts in mutual purpose bound, is wrung 
With pain; and now, with poisoned arrows stung. 
The ancient Friendship, pierced so deep, may 

prove 
Too frail, and falter at the insults flung 
From waves, whence Death smote men with 

Hell's mailed glove ! 

By this demoniac deed the earth may rock; 
All nations on both continents be dashed 
In overwhelming ruin, and Fury strain 
Its violence I Though Demons leer and mock, 
'Twere better Continents in armor clashed, v 
Than Tyranny availed o'er Freedom's reign. 



3a 



The Clash of Thrones 



SINKING OF THE ARABIC 

What! Has the Invidious Kaiser's reason flown? 
Would he, in face of fate, the friendship fair, 
Columbia proffered, spurn? Recks he to share 
A vdlain's glory and wear a demon's crown, 
Or drool through history the maniac-clown. 
Who hurled Hell's bursting bowels through the 

air. 
And sought the world in plangent flame to drown, 
Beneath his gratified and gloating glare. 
Where victims of his pirate flags lie strewn? 

With patient hope Columbia has borne 

His brutal Impudence and savage thrust, 

Conceiving him amenable to Right. 

But Ye, her solemn pleas disdain with scorn. 

Beware her Titan blow! If strike she must, — 

The Stars enlist to panoply her Might! 



33 



The Clash of Thrones 



WHERE ARE THY SONS, COLUMBIA? 

Where are thy Sons, Columbia, shall fend 
Thy noble Front, so feebly guarded yet, 
By forts and cannon on high mountains set, 
If, unforewarned, the Vandal seek to rend 
Thy vitals, mock thy power, and offend 
Thy courteous and trustful mien, which let 
The Foe, unseen, his bloody pathway wend. 
Ere thou, aroused, his conquering army met? 

To nurse sweet Peace in lap of Luxury, 

All unsuspicious of the lurking foe. 

Is Sampson's folly in Delilah's arms! 

Wait not. Fair Land, till War Hounds howl, and 

cry 
Wild havoc on thy shores ; till falls the Blow, 
That cows with Fear and Horror's weird alarms! 



34 



The Clash of Thrones 



MILITARISM 

A VAST Colossus of weird enginery, 

Whose myriad limbs are charged with tragic 

death, 
And whose fell throat exhales the poisoned 

breath, 
That wrecks the rose of health and artistry 
Of genius, shattering Hope and Liberty 
In sulphurous havoc; from whose silent sheath 
Forth flourishes the Sword of Destiny, 
To madden men with Ministry of Death ! — 

Such is the Frankenstein ambitious Trade 
Hath summonsed forth from hells of Social 

Strife, 
To gain by Force what Wisdom would disdain; 
A frightful Ogre, whose far-blighting shade 
Destroys the rarest buds that bloom in life, 
And turns insensate men to brutes insane. 



ZS 



The Clash of Thrones 



WAR'S HARVEST 

A MILLION soldiers He strewn on battle fields, 
And anguished mothers mourn their direful loss, 
Who, to grim Mars, a million more may toss. 
Ere his stern Front to paUid Sorrow yields. 
For, while the glum War-god his power wields, 
Still dazed with patriotic cheer,^ they gloss 
Their dismal woe with frenzied joy, which shields 
Them, momently, from sense of utter Loss. 

Yet Ye, who drave them to their Widowed Woe 
And Childless Motherhood: who tore their 

breasts 
With sorest suffering a woman can endure; 
What comfort for their broken hearts (the glow 
Once faded from War's corruscating crests) 
Will your vain Pride and all your Boasts secure? 



36 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE WAR AND THE PROLETARIATE 

When from the nightmare of war the Masses 

awake, 
And recall the wild horror and pitiless woe of 

Hell's rage; 
When Mammon again o'erpowers their lives, 

and the wage, 
They receive, is the charnel-house price they dare 

not forsake; 
When they think that for this they plunged in the 

fiery lake. 
To risk, with furious passion, in battle's mad wage. 
Their lives and their homes, that Mammon 

again might make 
Them his dupes and his slaves in toilers' impris- 
oning cage; 
What then, O Masters and Kings, will the masses 

ordain? 
Beware, when the armor thou'st trained these 

mad men to use, 
Shall be turned not on brothers-in-toil, thou'st 

trained them to smite. 
But on thee; when thy dupes have recovered 

from horror and pain; 
When Patriot's passion shall have died In their 

breast, and loose 
From false fear, they turn Freedom's day into 

riotous night! 

37 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE WAR GOD 

A GARGOYLE-HEADED Monster rears from Hell 

His huge, Gargantuan figure, shot with flame 

From bowels of immitigable shame, 

And fills the world with wild, reverb' rant yell 

Of insane demons, bent on havoc fell. 

Who leap in legions from his pregnant frame. 

To damn the earth with Death's sardonic game, 

Of hurhng living souls 'gainst cannon's shell! 

O Monster, hide thy battle-fevered face, 
Take back to hell thy blood-splashed armor, red, 
Thy tarnished fame and false demoniac pride! 
No fouler curse hath e'er befall'n the race. 
Than ruin by thy murd'rous cohorts spread. 
Since Reason foundered in thy gory tide. 



38 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE HEATHEN LAUGH 

Are Christian Thought and Power so feeble still, 
They suffer Satan's Hordes to master earth, 
And gird its sullen, havoc-smitten girth, 
With fires of Hell's consuming, torturous grill, 
Whilst fratricidal Hatreds, sore realms fill 
With dire spawn of Penury and Dearth, 
And, men's stark souls, avenging Horrors thrill, 
With savage glee and maniacal mirth? 

The Heathen chortle with sardonic laugh. 
And hang Lord Christ again upon a tree. 
To scoff a crucified and conquered King; 
Whilst rampant Demons joyous triumphs quaff, 
From chalices of vengeful mockery. 
And pierce a faltering Faith with jeering sting! 



39 



SECTION IV. 
THE TREND OF PROGRESS 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE WARRING CIVILIZATIONS 

I 

What Titan buffets through the veins of men, 
And drives them, armored, to the Gates of Hell? 
What Prophecies do woeful Deeds foretell. 
Whilst Hordes are writhing in War's bloody den? 
Who hath the power to wield Prevision's pen, 
And penetrate the battle's glamourous spell; 
Or grip, within his far discerning ken, 
The secret Hand that hurls the shattering shell? 

Nor Czar nor Kaiser, Lust of Rule, nor Trade, 
Nor e'en the Lure of Conquest, hath inspired 
Infuriate Monsters to o'erwhelm the Age : 
But Forces, finer far, that Mankind grade 
Twixt Savagery and Sanity, have fired 
Men's stalwart hearts with War's embittered 
rage. 



43 



The Clash of Thrones 



II 

Up from the bowels of forgotten time, 
Have welled the Enmities that hidden lay 
Twixt Spirits that contend, In unseen fray, 
For Mental Sovranty and Power prime, 
Which seek ascendancy In every clime, 
And shape the Souls that strive, In human clay, 
For juster laws and realms of lesser crime. 
Than what have mocked the ends for which men 
pray. 

The Hosts that battle now are subtle Thoughts, 

Rude shattering the templed Deities, 

So long have held men's faltering minds In awe; 

'TIs Destiny bespeaks. In thunderous shots, 

The overturn of false amenities. 

And Man's escape from Error's blinding flaw. 



44 



The Clash of Thrones 



KING ALBERT 

At that dark hour when Earth, In shroud of 

shame, 
Bewailed the midnight of its insane woe. 
One Star, undimmed, Illumed the world below, 
O'er-writ with splendor of a deathless name, 
More glorious than flare of War's red flame, 
Or valor seen In battle's bloody show: — 
Shall mankind e'er awake to nobler fame. 
Than glamor false on fields of martial glow. 

Tho' now an exiled King in foreign lands, 
A warrior battling for but Human Right, 
He towers, like an Agamemnon, o'er 
The sullied crowns that scar earth's reddened 

sands. 
And flaunts an Aurlflame of spotless light, 
That soars, unconquered, o'er the scourge of 

war I 



45 



The Clash of Thrones 



TWO PHASES OF PATRIOTISM 
I 

BARBARIC PATRIOTISM 

With flag of my Nation wrapped round my 

frame, and sword 
Of defiance gripped firm in its sheath; with 

heroic proclaim 
Of my Country's proud prowess and flaunt of 

puissant fame; 
With fanfare of trumpets and wild martial airs 

that gird 
My heart with resolves at Mar's shrine; with 

shouts that have stirred 
The foundations of Peace and struck the precipit- 
ous flame, 
The world hath consumed in War's fiery maw; — 

the Word 
I incarnate, that awakens a Nation to glory or 

shame. 

I am flame of the sword and shriek of the gun; 

I am brave 
With the boast of the Braggart's defy; I swear 

by the land 
That gave me my birth, and shall aid it to tower 

o'er all, 

46 



The Clash of Thrones 



Till its name shall be feared, and its pardon the 
boldest shall crave, 

Where'er she unfurls her flag's fairest folds, or 
where stand 

Her Soldiers arrayed in response to her soul- 
stirring call. 

II 

IDEAL PATRIOTISM 

Reborn, I come to bless, not curse the earth 
With vain, inglorious boast and selfish schemes; 
I come to charm mankind with nobler dreams. 
Than e'er the world inspired, since primal 

birth 
Of Hope, whose spirit buoyed Freedom's girth. 
And glorified the globe with golden beams! 
For Sympathy, not Hate, at my rebirth. 
Shall drain the bed of War's blood-reddened 

streams. 

Hence, armies shall be mobilized to slay 

The foes unseen, that lurk in human veins; 

And swift, aerial ships explore the sky. 

The mist-shod steps of Death's brigades to stay; 

Whilst Justice, on far heights, with searching eye, 

For Honor scans the error-laden plains, 

47 



The Clash of Thrones 



MARS MORITURUS 



When War, on gorgeously accoutred steed, 
Pranced proudly forth from wreckage of the 

fields, 
With music's throb and flash of furbished shields, 
Mankind, o'erglamored, praised the warrior's 

meed. 
Despite the butchery and gory greed 
Of Cannon's lust, or wanton Sword, that wields 
Its Mastery of Death, as columns speed 
Precipitous, through shelled and shattered fields. 

They hailed him Prince of Chivalry, and god 
Of noblest virtues, whose aspiring Dreams 
Must first be purged by fratricidal fires : 
His crimsoned Feet wooed flowers from the sod; 
His bleeding Wounds refreshed the spring-fed 

streams : 
Rare melodies thrummed he from sleeping lyres ! 



48 



The Clash of Thrones 



II 

But grizzled, now, and shorn of radiant locks, 
His perfumed breath as vile as shamble's fumes; 
With blood-blotched helmet and bedabbled 

plumes. 
His gory-visaged, gashed Grimace, Man shocks! 
The World, awakened from Delusion, mocks 
The braggart War that makes a million tombs, 
And e'en the balanced globe with terror rocks, 
As armies vanish in sepulchral glooms. 

No more thy visored Brow or Helmet's Sheen, 
O Mars, thy Bugle-Blast or stirring Drum, 
With Cannon's Challenge, shall our manhood 

test; 
No more shall Nations spurred by Hatred's 

spleen, 
Seek in embattled trenches grim and dumb, 
The gory Climax of thy Ghoulish Quest ! 



49 



The Clash of Thrones 



A PROPHETIC EPOCH 

This topmost Reach of Centuries is torn, 

(As Etna was by mad Empodocles, 

Who spat contemptuous flames, from sunken 

seas, 
Upon an Age, of pristine virtue shorn). 
And hails upon its blood-red heights, the Morn 
Of some New Day, whose vague, impelling pleas 
Invite to Glories of an Age Unborn, 
For which, distraught, men fight on bloody knees. 

For, from the Starry Silences a Voice, 
In mystic Prophecy from ancient time. 
Bespoke the Climax of contending Foes, 
When Man, redeemed, with angels would rejoice, 
That Peace, with golden gifts in every clime. 
Would Earth endow, and end War's bitter 
throes I 



SO 



The Clash of Thrones 



AMENDE HONORABLE* 

Does, then, the Iron Ear of Mars descend 
To hear the protests of an angered world, 
And stays he e'en the stealthy shot, would wend 
Its path, unseen, through billowy plains, when 

hurled 
By murderous hands to slaughter innocents? 
What's done cannot be undone e'en by Mars ; 
Nor souls restored that fell on fiery vents, 
Which burst from hell and dashed from flaming 

stars. 

Yet Hope, with slender wreath, may crown the 

brow 
Of Peace, and poise her white wings toward the 

sky, 
That faintly limns a dim, prophetic bow, 
Presaging Man's ennobling Liberty. 
For in high heaven or on the boisterous sea, 
No Power shall dare to stay the Fair and Free ! 



* The Kaiser is reported to be willing to make restitution 
for the loss of the Arabic and Lusitania. Despatch, August 
31st. 



51 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE FAIRER FRUITS OF WAR 

Not all of havoc is the aftermath, 
Not all of slaughter, rapine and revenge, 
Nor pestilence upon its gory fringe, 
That Armageddon leaves within its path: 
As flowers leap from Spring's torrential bath, 
So Tenderness and Sympathy, that hinge 
On suffering, and Cheer for those who cringe, 
Are finer feelings, wrought from War's wild 
wrath. 

The Soft and Pampered learn in Hardship's 

School 
The rugged joys of life; the walls of caste 
Are shattered; and the Lowly, as is fit. 
Respect Democracy's unfoibled rule; 
Whilst They, who lusted in life's wanton waste. 
To nobler uses now their lives submit. 



52 



The Clash of Thrones 



EUROPA REJUVENATA 



A SURGING Deluge swamps the shores of Time, 
And swirls upon its crest the rotten base 
Of centuries — its crumbling creeds the Race 
Benumbed, its false ideals, social slime, 
The weak despair of its decadent prime — 
All, all, the bloody Maelstrom doth embrace, 
And dash, demolished, midst discordant rhyme 
Of Man's mad music and supreme disgrace. 

Anon the white Moon o'er the pallid fields 

Of Peace, exultantly her promise speaks. 

Of Glory that shall gild the rash debris 

Of wanton War, when Wisdom once more wields 

Her power, in minds made sane through Woe, 

that wreaks 
The compensation, Strife merits for the Free. 



53 



The Clash of Thrones 



II 

From Baltic Sea to Bosphorus, from shores 
Of British Isles to Ural heights, a New 
Republic shall its irene folds of blue 
Unfurl, and mould the mixed mosaic floors 
Of Freedom's Fane from blood of myriad 

Scores, 
Who glimpsed, midst cannon's roar, the mystic 

view 
Of Unity 'twixt once embattled shores,^ 
And nations merged in racial friendship true. 

'Neath One Majestic Flag shall Europe bow, 

A continental union of all flags, 

Where every man his sovran rights shall 

claim. 
And Liberty henceforth, with sacred vow. 
Shall dedicate the very stones and crags, v 
To just Democracy's exalted aim. 



54 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE CONSUMMATION TO BE WISHED 

When crushed and writhing in his angry wounds, 
The grim War-Beast his lacerated frame 
Bemoans, and Sanity returns to shame 
Crime's Saturnalia, whose echo sounds 
Benumbing o'er the earth, the trampled Grounds 
Of Justice shall emerge with fairer fame. 
And, freed from frenzy of the bloody game. 
Again disport Hope's rose-embowered mounds. 

Then shall war-shattered thrones be unreclaimed, 
Whilst Mankind hails Democracy's new birth. 
And seals the Advent of true Brotherhood; 
Then shall millennial freedom be proclaimed. 
And Man, unleashed from manacles of Dearth, 
Shall spurn War's mad Arbitrament of Blood. 



ss 



The Clash of Thrones 



.THE WAR SOCIALISTS 

Ye have your noble Faith betrayed, and sworn 
Allegiance to earth's plundering Hordes, who 

crush 
The homes of vanquished foes, and onward rush 
With clattering acclaim of power, torn 
From dying breasts of Patriots, proudly sworn 
To shield a Nation's Name, but not to brush 
Aside its solemn treaties, grimly scorn 
Its pledges, or Honor's protests sternly hush. 

Democracy demands adherents true. 

Her noblest Virtues shall ne'er swerve nor 
flinch; 

But flaunt her banners to the stormiest breeze; 

O'er lacerant rocks her path with vigor hew; 

Wrong's sceptred power from thrones malevo- 
lent wrench; 

And from her Foes his conquering ensigns seize. 



56 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE PARLIAMENT OF PEACE 

When . Europe from her bleeding plains shall 

rise, 
And heal her wounds with Reason's softening 

balm; 
When Storms of Bitterness subside in calm, 
And Honor sets for Man a loftier prize: 
Then Justice, meted in the vast Assize 
Of all Mankind, shall stay each threatening 

qualm. 
With measures lauded to the echoing skies. 
From clime of rugged Pine to flowering Palm. 

For Fleets and Parliaments shall then prevail. 

To Guard Man's Common Weal with fairest 
laws. 

When Crowns are crushed and Kings and Kais- 
ers cease. 

The Pride that feeds the Lust of Power shall 
fail. 

And coarsest clay shall merge, in Common 
Cause, 

With rarest blood, to serve the Throne of 
Peace. 



57 



The Clash of Thrones 



THE FINAL TREATY 

What then, O Rulers of the World, when 

hushed 
The whelming boom of Hell's disgorging waves. 
And Earth, in lavished blood of Patriots, laves; 
When, drained of Power, the famished victim 

's crushed. 
And dragooned hordes in peace are homeward 

rushed; 
What, then, shall be the Goal that Power craves? 
REVENGE, with scornful Hate's hot fervor 

flushed? 
Or will pale MERCY plead from unwreathed 

graves? 

Not till all nations cease their armored craze, 
Expectant of the Clash themselves create. 
And mount their Cannon of Defense above v 
The Thrones of Peace, will War's devouring 

blaze 
Be trampled from the earth, and Crowns irate, 
On battling plains, their Prowess cease to prove. 



58 



SECTION V. 

BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF EARLY 
EVENTS 



The Clash of Thrones 



CHRONOLOGY OF LEADING EARLY 
EVENTS 

(Selected from Nelson's Encyclopedia) 

June 28 — Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir 
to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife 
are shot and killed at Sarajevo, Bosnia. 

July 23 — Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum 
to Servia, demanding the punishment of the ac- 
complices In the assassination of Archduke Fer- 
dinand, the suppression of antl-Austrlan socie- 
ties In Bosnia, and the official disavowal of Ser- 
vian connection with antl-AustrIa propagandlsm. 

July 25 — Servia Issues Its reply, agreeing to all 
demands of Austria-Hungary, except the one stip- 
ulating that Austro-Hungarlan officials should par- 
ticipate In the enquiries. The Russian govern- 
ment announces that It will not permit Austria- 
Hungary to make war upon Servia without good 
reasons. 

July 28 — Austria declares war on Servia. 
Austria and Germany reject the proposal of Sir 
Edward Grey, British Foreign Minister, that an 
International conference be called in order to 
avert a general European war. 

July 29 — The Czar of Russia issues an im- 
perial ukase ordering a mobilization of the Rus- 

61 



The Clash of Thrones 



slan reserves on the Austrian border. Austria 
begins hostilities against Servia by bombarding 
Belgrade. 

July 31 — Germany demands that Russia sus- 
pend the mobilization of its army within twelve 
hours. Martial law is proclaimed in Germany. 
Holland, Belgium and Switzerland order general 
mobilization of their armies in order to protect 
frontiers and maintain neutrality. 

Aug. I — Germany orders the mobilization of 
its army and declares war on Russia, following 
the refusal of the latter to stop mobilizing. 
France orders the immediate mobilization of its 
army. Italy announces its intention of remaining 
neutral, claiming that its obligations under the 
Triple Alliance apply only to a defensive war, 
and that the one being waged by Austria against 
Servia is a war of aggression. 

Aug. 2 — Germany begins war on France with- 
out a formal declaration by sending troops across 
the neutral Grand Duchy of Luxemburg into 
France. Germany summons Belgium whose ter- 
ritory was guaranteed under treaty by both Prus- 
sia and England to permit the free passage of 
German troops despatched against France. Bel- 
gium refuses permission and declares that she will 
defend her neutrality. Russian troops invade 
Germany. 

6z 



The Clash of Thrones 



Aug. 3 — King Albert of Belgium appeals to 
King George of England for protection against 
the violation of his country's neutrality by Ger- 
many. 

Aug. 4 — Germany declares war on France, 
England and Belgium. The Germans begin an 
attack on the fortifications at Liege, Belgium. 
England declares war on Germany, following the 
rejection of her demand that Germany respect 
the neutrality of Belgium. 

Aug. 5 — President Wilson proclaims the neu- 
trality of the United States. 

Aug. 6 — Austria declares war on Russia. 

Aug. 9 — The German forces occupy the city 
of Liege after an unexpectedly stubborn resist- 
ance. 

Aug. 10 — France proclaims a state of war ex- 
ists with Austria. 

Aug. 15 — Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander- 
in-Chief of the Russian armies, promises au- 
tonomy to Poland as a reward of loyalty in the 
present crisis. 

Aug. 27 — The French line has fallen back 
twenty-five mile.s within the French border. All 
the forts of Namur fall. The Germans burn the 
city of Louvain. 

Sept. 12 — German army in retreat along the 
entire front northeast of Paris, ending in the five- 

63 



The Clash of Thrones 



day battle of the Marne, which the French Gen- 
eral Joffre announces to have been ended In *'an 
undeniable victory." 

Sept. 20 — Germans bombard Rheims, destroy- 
ing many public buildings and leaving the famous 
cathedral in ruins. 

Oct. 3 — The end of the second month of the 
war finds the Germans on the defensive in 
France and in Russia and on the offensive in Bel- 
gium. German forces occupy more than half of 
Belgium and a large portion of Northeastern 
France. 

Oct. 9 — Antwerp surrenders to the Germans. 
King Albert and most of his Belgian army es- 
cape to Ostend. 

Oct. 30 — Russia declares that a state of war 
exists with Turkey. 

Nov. 5 — Great Britain declares war on Turkey 
and annexes the Island of Cyprus. 

Dec. 28 — United States Government in note 
to British Government remonstrates against the 
Interference to which the foreign trade of the 
United States has been subjected during the war. 
United States notifies Germany she does not 
recognize Belgium as German territory. 

Feb. 3, 19 1 5 — Great Britain announces that all 
foodstuffs from the United States destined forGer- 

64 



The Clash of Thrones 



many, Austria or Turkey will be regarded as con- 
ditional contraband and liable to seizure. 

Feb. 5 — Germany announces that after Feb. 
1 8 the waters about the British Isles will be 
made a "war zone," that enemy's ships in that 
zone will be destroyed, and that all neutral ves- 
sels are warned to avoid these waters. 

May 7 — Lusitania sunk. 

Aug. 1 8 — Arabic sunk. 



65 



The Clash of Thrones 



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The Clash of Thrones 



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The Clash of Thrones 



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The Clash of Thrones 



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69 



